What is education? 

The term education refers to the process of facilitating individuals acquire new knowledge and skills to become a productive part of society. In other words, it is a process in which individuals are supported to learn new skills, values, habits, and beliefs. 

This process of facilitating learning and acquisition of new knowledge or simply education takes place in both formal and informal ways. However, a n ideal formal education setting is expected to  enhance the intellectual, physical, and emotional capacity of a person – thereby  ensuring the holistic development of a person. 

What does it mean by education in Islam? 

In Islam, education is a process of facilitating individuals to live their life according to Islamic teachings. From an Islamic perspective,  Intellectual, physical, and emotional enhancement are pointless without cultivating a strong belief in Islamic fundamentals. 

In other words, Islam emphasizes setting up such a formal system of education which creates an enabling environment for people to create a balance between Deen and Dunya. 

Education in the light of the Holy Quran 

The importance of education in Islam is evident from the fact that the first revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) began with the word “Read”. 

The first revelation is quoted as follows: 

“Read. Read in the name of your Lord who created; [He] created the human being from a blood clot. Read in the name of thy Lord who taught by the pen: [He] taught the human being what he did not know” (Quran, 96: 1-5).

Following are some more verses from the Holy Quran that emphasize the acquisition of knowledge:

• “Are those who have knowledge equal to those who do not have knowledge?!”(Quran, 39:9)
• “Seeking  the knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim man and woman”
• “Allah raises to higher ranks the believers and those of knowledge.” ( Ayah 11, Surah Al-Mujadalah). 

The emphasis on education by the Prophet (PBUH)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) urged Muslims to acquire knowledge irrespective of any age or gender for a successful life in the wold and hereafter.

Following are some of the important sayings of Prophet (PBUH) which serve as a guide source when it comes to getting or imparting  education: 

• The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 74)
• Acquire knowledge and impart it to the people (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 107)
• A father gives his children nothing better than a good education (Al-Tirmidhi)
• One who treads a path in search of knowledge has his path to Paradise made easy by God (Riyadh – us- Saleheen, 245)
• “Seek knowledge even if it is far as China.”
• “Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.”
• “Wisdom is the lost prop­erty of the believer, he should take it even if finds it in the mouth of a mushrik.
• “Seeking knowledge is a duty of every Muslim (man/woman).” (Ibn Majah)